I didn’t read Townsend’s article until after I wrote the post, I saw someone else mention it. He’s 6-0 with a 1.29 (or so) as of late. Had he gotten the W yesterday, 10-0 to close with 20 wins would be worth a few votes.

Vince in MN

September 19, 2012 at 6:16 pm

Leyland: –15 and counting.

Vince in MN

September 19, 2012 at 7:41 pm

Lots of pitches to get through two innings. Verlander hasn’t been efficient very often since the break.

Vince in MN

September 19, 2012 at 7:44 pm

Anderson on the other hand, very efficient.

StorminNorman

September 19, 2012 at 9:18 pm

CWS just had bases juiced nobody out, and failed to score in the 4th

Vince in MN

September 19, 2012 at 9:35 pm

vs. Cy Chen. That’s baseball.

Vince in MN

September 19, 2012 at 9:36 pm

Wow, Miggy is just dialed in right now.

Vince in MN

September 19, 2012 at 9:42 pm

So is Benoit going to pitch every 8th inning for the rest of the season no matter what the score?

StorminNorman

September 19, 2012 at 10:24 pm

only if he can roll out Valverde every 9th for the rest of the season…

Vince in MN

September 19, 2012 at 10:26 pm

I’m guessing that is the “idea.”

StorminNorman

September 19, 2012 at 10:44 pm

In my novice opinion, Valverde has lost the effectiveness of his sinker pitch, and he hasn’t improved his velocity like last year…and he lacks a punch-out pitch… so he’s adopted the Todd Jones method of pitching to contact…and hoping its hit at somebody and within the park… not necessarily the blue print for a team’s “closer”…but he’s DET’s and JL’s

Its apparent DET is going to live or die by the AlAl or Villareal in the 7th, Benoit in the 8th and Valverde 9th – we shall see how this next two weeks plays out

Kevin in Dallas

September 19, 2012 at 10:13 pm

This is a good spot for Valverde. I’m still a little nervous though.

Vince in MN

September 19, 2012 at 10:27 pm

Leyland: –14 and counting.

Coleman

September 19, 2012 at 10:27 pm

Great game, and yet…is it wrong to be irritated by Valverde?

William

September 19, 2012 at 10:30 pm

i would be concerned if you weren’t irritated by the potato.

KC just went up 3-0 in the 7th. that’s not irritating.

Doug of trou

September 19, 2012 at 10:38 pm

A closer can protect a 1 run lead. Valweirdo is no closer. We will regret it if it isn’t already too late.

StorminNorman

September 19, 2012 at 10:50 pm

CWS hitters have left 18 on base through the 8th, and no runs yet… i can feel the CWS fans frustration from here… and will get no sympathy… but a Ventura ‘hat tip’ may be in order

Another thing I will be very happy to see end when Leyland leaves in 14 games is his stupid little league move of letting runners steal every single 9th inning without a throw….we stopped doing that when we moved up from “coach pitch” yet Mumbles has allowed that defensive indifference 100 times …I watch a lot of 9th innings and no one does that except Mumbles.

Kevin in Dallas

September 19, 2012 at 11:30 pm

I don’t see anyone else doing it either. It’s baffling to me.

Kevin in Dallas

September 20, 2012 at 1:44 pm

Sorry that I didn’t get the post up, got caught up. Will have it up in 30 – got a hypo about Leyland for you.

Go Tigers.

Latest Comments

jud I know it was only an exhibition game ...but...I don't know if I can take that much hysterical laughter from

Coleman http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12413132&categoryid=2521705
On the other hand, Verlander is "confident" and "ready to go," so there's that.

Smoking Loon Good article, Kevin.
Did anyone else have the thought last year that perhaps the biggest problem with Verlander was... predictability? He

Kevin in Dallas Neither does this story.
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2015/02/detroit_tigers_bring_back_righ_1.html

Kevin in Dallas This picture does not instill a whole bunch of confidence.
http://www.mlive.com/tigers/#/0

Coleman Check out this one: http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2015/02/report_relief_pitcher_joba_cha.html#incart_more_sports
He shaved the beard! And looks like he dropped a few pounds too.

StorminNorman$ http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/110232762/joba-chamberlain-signs-with-detroit-tigers
low price, potential high yield... or maybe not. Whatever the case, Joba certainly said all the right things.

Jim EggersUSMC I concur K in D, am hoping for a good but not great season from JV. Seemed to me he

StorminNorman$ Great info/research Kevin! One point to clarify and factor into the analysis: JV did make $20M last year, but

Coleman Verlander had core muscle surgery last January. Could it be, at his age, and with the type of pitcher he